The Keto Diet
I am sure that by now you have already heard of the keto diet. Many people are reaping the benefits of this way of eating, but what is the keto diet exactly? And how can I know if it is right for me?
Keto is short for ketogenic, which simply means producing or involved in the formation of ketone bodies.
The way the formation takes place is by significantly reducing the amount of carbohydrates you take in, to 20 grams of carbohydrates per day. This forces the body to use fat for fuel instead of glycogen which comes from high carbohydrate and sugar intake.
One of the things that has popularized the keto diet is the fact that you can eat things like bacon, cheese, and all types of meats including some processed meats and still lose weight. However, you should take into consideration your cholesterol and how you are potentially clogging your arteries. This is considered a dirty keto diet. It works but if you are not careful you can negatively affect your heart health. In addition, with every diet, depending on the amount of weight you have to lose there are plateaus, if you begin the Keto diet by eating only 20 grams of carbohydrates, when you hit a plateau it is especially difficult to lower your carbohydrate contents less than 20 grams per day, and because of the resistance of the body to drop more weight many people get frustrated, stop dieting, and the weight begin to pile back on.
Clean keto is the best way to go. A clean keto diet gives you a gentle fat burn, this happens by eating lean meats, and vegetables, also instead of eating only 20 grams of carbohydrates per day, you begin the program with 80 -100 grams of complex carbohydrates per day. The initial weight loss in the first week is a big drop, and this is because the body is emptying out the cells of glycogen and water. After the first week the weight loss slows down to about 2-3 pounds per week, until you reach goal or hit your first plateau. Once you hit a plateau, you can restrict carbohydrates more, or you can do a detox and the weight loss will kick start again. You will get amazing results on the outside as well as the inside. Your health will soar, and your body will thank you by looking and feeling great.
Reference:
Dr. Berg Nutritional Course 2021
Meriam Webster dictionary 2021
Keto for Women Centennial Health Magazine 2021